health – I Can't Eat What?http://icanteatwhat.com
GLUTEN-FREE • DAIRY-FREE • PALEOThu, 16 Mar 2017 23:07:34 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.24 Amazing Remedies to Turn That Whine Into Sunshinehttp://icanteatwhat.com/4-amazing-remedies-to-turn-that-whine-into-sunshine/
http://icanteatwhat.com/4-amazing-remedies-to-turn-that-whine-into-sunshine/#respondSun, 06 Mar 2016 12:08:41 +0000http://icanteatwhat.com/?p=4337Every wonder why we wake up irritable? Ever wonder why your sweet child wakes up in a bad mood? I have one that is super positive. She always sees the world through rose-colored glasses, literally and figuratively, but, after age 3, she kept waking up in a terrible mood! After much trial and error I […]

Every wonder why we wake up irritable? Ever wonder why your sweet child wakes up in a bad mood?

I have one that is super positive. She always sees the world through rose-colored glasses, literally and figuratively, but, after age 3, she kept waking up in a terrible mood! After much trial and error I came up with a plan that has completely changed our lives. She no longer wakes up crabby Kathy, she wakes up, hugs me, kisses my face off and says, “I love you, Mommy!” Every single day! Unless I miss one of these essential ingredients.

Here’s what I do: (this is for all ages, not just kids)1. No Artificial ingredients!

This is not fun for a lot of people who love their artificial sweeteners and colored foods, but studies show that artificial ingredients can cause irritability and anger, among other behavioral issues like depression, insomnia and anxiety.

According to this article in the UK’s Daily Mail, irritability, temper outbursts, oppositional defiance, restlessness and difficulty falling asleep are the main behavioral effects of additives. But parents rarely realize that food chemicals can be associated with many other effects including arguing with siblings, making silly noises, speech delay, anxiety, depression or difficulty concentrating. Additive-free children are generally calmer, happier and more cooperative.
I have found this to be 100% true with myself and my children. Eliminating these ingredients will bring peace to your home.

Table compiled by Sue Dengate, author of the bestselling book and film ‘Fed Up: Understanding how food affects your child and what you can do about it.’

And about the artificial sweeteners…Scientists have repeatedly proven that excess phenylalanine in the brain blocks the normal production of serotonin, which leads to emotional disorders such as depression, PMS, insomnia and sexual dysfunction–all modern epidemics.

ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS CAN CAUSE INSOMNIA and depression which will lead to irritability quickly, not to mention that they actually cause weight gain! Read more on that here.

2. The next thing I do is probiotics.

This one is a must for bringing peace to an irritable countenance. Probiotics are truly amazing. Our health begins in our guts, as you know, and we all need to add probiotics to our routine for optimal health. In a nutshell, probiotics are a vital component in eliminating toxins. They help us to stay regular, which is one of the ways we eliminate toxins.

They also strengthen our immunity by building up our good gut flora and killing off the harmful gut flora, which builds up over time, especially after antibiotic use and sugar intake. Sugar and antibiotics feed the bad gut flora, which can cause inflammation in our joints, mood issues, insomnia, digestive problems, like gas, bloating diarrhea and /or constipation.

Probiotics bring balance to our health and help strengthen our neurotransmitters. The exciting thing about probiotics is that they produce Gaba, which is the neurotransmitter in our brains that causes us to chill out. Here’s a great article from Psychology Today exploring that in more detail. Beneficial psychological effects of probiotics include lowered depression, less anger and hostility, less anxiety, and better problem solving. Finally, probiotics cause a reduction of substance P in your stomach.

Substance P is a neurotransmitter associated with pain and inflammation, and linked to anxious, depressive and aggressive behaviors. Our favorite probiotics are from Ultimate Flora. My 7 year old takes 15 billion per day. My teens use 30 billion and I use 90 billion.

When you begin probiotics, start out slowly with a 15 billion capsule. Initially you may feel more tired, gassy, constipated or have loose stools. These symptoms are the effects of detoxification. They will subside within a few days and you will begin to feel much better than ever after this phase. When increasing my dose I only add 15 billion, or less, at a time, 3 – 4 days apart until I reach the level that works best for me.

3. Another thing I do to keep crankiness at bay is to apply a mixture of chamomile essential oil and lavender essential oil onto our ankles or feet at bedtime. This remedy has been amazing at helping us all to wake up on the right side of the bed. I mixed 10 drops of each oil with 2 Tablespoons of avocado oil (grapeseed oil works well, too) into a dropper bottle or one with a roller ball. Apply a few drops each night. There are many good brands of essential oils, but please make sure you use organic. I like this brand.

4. One surprising thing that can cause behavioral issues is household chemicals, like bleach, ammonia, air fresheners and perfumes. I personally have a major chemical sensitivity to all of these. They all have caused me agitation, depression and insomnia, as well as anger, and tightness in the chest.

For household cleaning I use Eco Friendly dish soap from Seventh Generation and dishwasher soap from Seventh Generation. I use an essential oil blend of 15 drops tea tree oil and 15 drops lemon oil in a spray bottle of water for surfaces, and Bon Ami powder for scouring sinks, tubs and toilets. I also do not use traditional air fresheners, but instead I use an essential oil blend in a spray bottle to freshen up the room.

By adding these remedies to your life you will find a great peace will settle over you and your household.

For many women chronic UTI’s (urinary tract infections) can bring a plethora of head aches, stress and discomfort. A urinary tract infection, or UTI, occurs when bacteria enter the urinary tract and cause inflammation. Symptoms can include urinary frequency with burning sensations. Older adults may suffer from unexplained incontinence, vague fatigue or significant changes in their behavior and mental status. They can become very confused, agitated, sleepy, paranoid, psychotic and can see things that aren’t there.

Many women become more susceptible to UTI’s during menopause because of changes in estrogen. Other women who are more apt to get UTI’s are women who were born with an abnormality of the urinary tract, women who have kidney or bladder stones, diabetics, women who have a catheter, and women in a nursing home.

I’m sharing this blog post because I have a family member who began suffering with chronic UTI’s after age 60. She tried natural remedies that didn’t work, so was forced to use antibiotics over and over. Most people don’t realize that frequent use of antibiotics can cause a myriad of problems, and some are quite dangerous. For starters, new studies show that after two cycles of antibiotic use, breast cancer risk increases. Here’s a great article about that from Dr. Axe.

Over use of antibiotics also leads to antibiotic resistance, which means that the bacteria become resistant to the antibiotic.

According to www.kidshealth.org “Antibiotic resistance is a widespread problem, and one that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls “one of the world’s most pressing public health problems.” Bacteria that were once highly responsive to antibiotics have become more and more resistant. Among those that are becoming harder to treat are pneumococcal infections (which cause pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, and meningitis), skin infections, and tuberculosis.

In addition to antibiotic resistance, overusing antibiotics can lead to other problems. Antibiotics kill many different bacteria, even the good ones that help keep the body healthy. Sometimes taking antibiotics can cause a person to develop diarrhea due to a lack of good bacteria that help digest food properly. In some cases, bad bacteria, like Clostridium difficile (or C diff), may overgrow and cause infections.”

Antibiotic use also causes our gut flora to become imbalanced, which then damages the gut lining, which then leads to leaky gut syndrome, which can spiral into auto-immune issues and food sensitivities. Things like mood swings, irritability, insomnia, skin problems, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, joint pain are just a few of the symptoms that can arise from over-use of antibiotics. According to the Center For Disease Control antibiotics increase fatal diarrhea cases in children,

In 2000, the U.S. lost $35 billion because of premature deaths, hospital stays, and lost wages related to antibiotic-resistant infections, Tufts researchers found.

Another interesting thing about UTI’s is that older adults may suffer from unexplained incontinence, vague fatigue or significant changes their behavior and mental status.

“Older people can get markedly confused, agitated, or sleepy,” says Dr. Smith. “Sometimes they can see things that aren’t there, like bugs crawling on the ceiling. They can have false beliefs and become paranoid.”

With all of the risks involved with over-use of antibiotics I wanted to help my loved one get off the antibiotic train. I consulted with my doctor about what to do. He suggested a protocol that works like a charm for his patients that suffer from UTI’s. When my family member began this protocol we were both skeptical. She was in the middle of one and had already finished a round of antibiotics that didn’t seem to clear it up. After one dose she felt her symptoms clear up. And now it’s been 3 months of being on this protocol with no symptoms of infection at all. This is the longest she’s gone without any symptoms of infection in almost 10 years!

So what is this protocol?

The first thing you need to do is build up your good gut flora with a large dose of probiotics. Probiotics are one of the most important organisms for healing the body and boosting our immunity. They are extremely healing to any infection, inflammation, digestive issues, mental health illness, and neurological disorders. They also help replace and build the healthy flora that was killed off during antibiotic use.

In the acute phase of a UTI, we used a large dose of 90 billion for the first month of treatment. There are many good probiotics on the market, but this is the one we use from Ultimate Flora. Also, when you begin a probiotic, or increase your dose, you’ll notice some changes. There can be flu like symptoms due to detox and die off of bad bacteria in your body. There may be more gas, loose stools or harder stools for a short period of time. Don’t give up during this phase. It is extremely important that you use probiotics. If you want to try some Kevita (found in health food stores) or Kombucha (found in health food stores and WalMart) during the initial phase to help your elimination, those are great probiotic drinks that will give you even more benefits.

After the first month on a high dose of probiotics, we switched to a maintenance dose of 50 billion from Ultimate Flora. We use that dose daily from then on.

]]>http://icanteatwhat.com/proven-natural-relief-from-chronic-urinary-tract-infections/feed/05 Amazing Cold and Flu Remedies You Don’t Want to Miss!http://icanteatwhat.com/5-amazing-cold-and-flu-remedies/
http://icanteatwhat.com/5-amazing-cold-and-flu-remedies/#commentsSat, 09 Jan 2016 17:16:27 +0000http://icanteatwhat.com/?p=4114Now that cold and flu season is in full swing, I thought I would let you in on some great measures to take to beef up your immunity. This will help you to have fewer sick days and less doctor visits. If you do catch something, you’ll fight it quicker, too! For the first 10 […]

Now that cold and flu season is in full swing, I thought I would let you in on some great measures to take to beef up your immunity. This will help you to have fewer sick days and less doctor visits. If you do catch something, you’ll fight it quicker, too!

For the first 10 years of our marriage and parenthood, most of our family would get sick in December with some kind of serious cold, flu or stomach bug. It was miserable. Christmas was spent with illness year after year. I couldn’t figure out why we had this recurring problem, but I had to do something. Three years ago I made some changes that have kept us well during the holidays, and we have had much fewer illnesses throughout the year, with less healing time when we do catch something. Also, one of our daughters has mild asthma. She used to have a wet cough for 4 months during the winter. These 5 things that I’ve added to our lives has beat that chronic cold for the past 2 winters!

Here is my protocol for keeping us well:

1. Vitamin D3 – This one is crucial for staying well. It’s the first one we added (3 years ago) that made a huge improvement on our health. Vitamin D fights infections as it regulates the expression of genes that influence your immune system to attack and destroy bacteria and viruses. An article by Dr. Mercola states that [a study done in Japan, showed that schoolchildren taking 1,200 units of vitamin D per day during the winter time reduced their risk of getting influenza A infection by about 40 percent.

He goes on to say, “I believe it’s far more prudent, safer, less expensive, and most importantly, far more effective to optimize your vitamin D levels than to get vaccinated against the flu.”] In our home, most of us take 4000 iu’s in the morning. Our 12 year old takes 3000 iu’s and our 6 year old takes 400 iu’s (here is a good one for little ones). Here’s our favorite Vitamin D3. Make sure you get enough magnesium in your day to properly absorb the vitamin D3 without side effects.

We use Natural Calm at night, which you can find here. Some of us had insomnia taking vitamin D3 until we added the magnesium at night. Here’s a great article about the possible side effects of Vitamin D3. And here’s another great article about how vitamin D3 helped us with colds and flu.

2. Beta-1, 3-D Glucan – I recently had the privilege of hearing A.J. Lanigan speak about the importance of Beta Glucan in boosting immunity. He is the immunologist that discovered Beta Gucan. I was fascinated by the many benefits of Beta Glucan, but in a nut shell, Beta Glucan increases our immunity by up to 30%. Our first experience with Beta Glucan was 6 years ago when the Swine flu swept our area.

My girls and I got the swine flu together and were down with it for days, while my husband was completely untouched by it. He was taking Beta Glucan and the rest of us weren’t. One of Beta Glucan’s uses is specifically for preventing the flu. Now we all use it and not only do I have more energy, but I also have fewer headaches. Apparently, Beta Glucan also regulates Corticosterone which helps with stress and pain, hence the improvement with headaches.

My husband takes 200-500mg per day. My teens and I take 100mg, and my 6 year old takes 1/3 of a capsule mixed into nut butter. Here’s where we get our Beta Glucan.

3. Colloidal Silver – Colloidal Silver is a flu preventative, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory. It is great for pink eye, sinusitis, pneumonia, wound care and skin health. This product is a staple in our house. We use it at the onset of cold and flu symptoms, and continue to use it until our symptoms are gone. It has truly helped us to get well much quicker with less symptoms.

We use it at the onset of cold and flu symptoms, and continue to use it until our symptoms are gone. It has truly helped us to get well much quicker with less symptoms.

Dr. Axe has a great article on the 8 Colloidal Silver Benefits and Uses. Check it out here. Here’s one that I recommend using. You can also get it in nasal spray here.

4. Goldenseal – If you haven’t tried Goldenseal, it’s time! This powerful herb is essential for fighting off anything bacterial. Goldenseal has numerous uses that are attributed to its antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. It soothes irritated mucus membranes aiding the eyes, ears, nose and throat. Taken at the first signs of respiratory problems, colds or flu, Goldenseal can help to prevent further symptoms from developing. It has also been used to help reduce fevers, and relieve congestion and excess mucous. I use this one in conjunction with Colloidal Silver if the symptoms seem to be getting worse. It really makes a cold or flu go away quicker and with less severity. It really cuts down on the use of antibiotics, which have been shown to increase cancer risk after just 2 doses! You can read more about that

It soothes irritated mucus membranes aiding the eyes, ears, nose and throat. Taken at the first signs of respiratory problems, colds or flu, Goldenseal can help to prevent further symptoms from developing. It has also been used to help reduce fevers, and relieve congestion and excess mucous. I use this one in conjunction with Colloidal Silver if the symptoms seem to be getting worse. It really makes a cold or flu go away quicker and with less severity. It really cuts down on the use of antibiotics, which have been shown to increase cancer risk after just 2 doses! You can read more about that

It really makes a cold or flu go away quicker and with less severity. It really cuts down on the use of antibiotics, which have been shown to increase cancer risk after just 2 doses! You can read more about that here. It also destroys our bodies good gut flora, which is essential for optimal health and digestion. Here’s the one we use.

5. Coconut Oil – This is the oil that I use the most. It has so many health benefits that it’s astounding! For this article I’ll focus on the fact that coconut oil has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

It is a powerhouse for keeping our immune systems strong. I use it for sautéing, I put it on my steamed or roasted veggies, and I use it in my baking. According to this article by Dr. Axe: Coconut has a special ingredient, which makes it excellent for fighting microbes, called lauric acid. In the body, lauric acid is converted into monolaurin, which has anti viral, anti protozoan and anti microbial properties. Monolaurin can help fight the following lipid coated viruses:• Measles• Influenza Virus• Herpes• Different kinds of infectious bacteria• Parasites such as Giardia and Lamblia.

You can read more about the amazing benefits of coconut oil here. I highly recommend that you add these remedies to your routine to keep well and stay well. And, let me know what your favorite all natural remedies are. I’d love to hear from you!

]]>http://icanteatwhat.com/5-amazing-cold-and-flu-remedies/feed/1A Picky 6 Year Olds Favorite Foodshttp://icanteatwhat.com/a-picky-6-year-olds-favorite-foods/
http://icanteatwhat.com/a-picky-6-year-olds-favorite-foods/#respondFri, 16 Oct 2015 12:43:01 +0000http://icanteatwhat.com/?p=4078 This past week I received a note from a mother who sounded frustrated and discouraged about her young child’s picky appetite. I think most mom’s, who have more that one child, can say they’ve had at least one picky eater. It’s distressing and frustrating. We want our kids to be strong and grow healthy. […]

This past week I received a note from a mother who sounded frustrated and discouraged about her young child’s picky appetite. I think most mom’s, who have more that one child, can say they’ve had at least one picky eater. It’s distressing and frustrating. We want our kids to be strong and grow healthy. We want them to like the food we prepare and we want them to be thankful for our efforts. Added to that desire can be the stress of food intolerances, and we have a real dilemma on our hands.

Out of our three children, we’ve had two picky eaters. Our third child is the pickiest. She has always been a light eater, and gets frequent tummy aches. Over the years I’ve learned what triggers her tummy aches and limit or eliminate those foods from her diet. She is compliant with those issues, because she has seen, and felt, the consequences of eating the wrong foods. One thing I’ve learned is to let go of my anxiety that she’s not getting enough. She’s growing and healthy. She sleeps well and is generally happy. She has always had a very positive attitude and all of those things can change in a moment with the wrong foods.

How I deal with this struggle is, not only letting go of my control, but also to let her enjoy the healthy foods that she likes, even if that’s all she will eat for the next 10 years! Some people don’t grow up into more diverse foods until they’re adults. While this may not be the optimal thing for their bodies, they will survive and can thrive on a few favorite items. When eating out, which is rare, I always pack something for her to eat, like a sun butter or peanut butter sandwich. She usually won’t eat at restaurants except Whole Foods food bar, and if she goes too long without food she gets extremely irritable and HANGRY!

Another problem we’ve had with all of our kids is that they’ll love a food for a little while and then all of a sudden they don’t want it anymore! That’s exasperating!

This post is to encourage others who are discouraged about their picky eater. They will grow out of it, but for now, give them the healthiest options that you know they will eat over and over and over and over and ……….

]]>http://icanteatwhat.com/a-picky-6-year-olds-favorite-foods/feed/0How to Beat Seasonal Allergies: Side Effects Not Included!http://icanteatwhat.com/how-to-beat-seasonal-allergies-side-effects-not-included/
http://icanteatwhat.com/how-to-beat-seasonal-allergies-side-effects-not-included/#respondTue, 06 Oct 2015 13:06:53 +0000http://icanteatwhat.com/?p=4036How to Beat Seasonal Allergies If you’re one of the 40 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies, then this post is for you! Fortunately, in spite of the fact that I have many food intolerances, I don’t suffer from seasonal allergies. My husband, however, does. Every spring and fall he gets terrible hay fever […]

How to Beat Seasonal Allergies

If you’re one of the 40 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies, then this post is for you!

Fortunately, in spite of the fact that I have many food intolerances, I don’t suffer from seasonal allergies. My husband, however, does. Every spring and fall he gets terrible hay fever symptoms. And, every time we visit my parents, who live in the mountains of North Carolina, he has it even worse. As soon as we arrive at their home, he begins to get congested with sneezing and red, itchy, watery eyes. The whole time we’re there he’s miserable, and it usually takes over 2 days for it to clear up after we’ve returned home to Charlotte.

This year my doctor recommended a product called D-Hist from Ortho Molecular Products. It’s an all natural supplement that goes to battle against seasonal allergy symptoms. Four days before we left for the mountains my husband took 2 of these per day.

He continued taking them while we were there and then after we returned home. This time he had no allergy symptoms whatsoever! It is now fall, and he is symptom-free, as long as he uses the D-Hist. Score! Now he can enjoy going to the mountains and walk in the leaves without feeling miserable. (Use it according to the bottle instructions.)One of our daughters also suffers from allergies from October through March. Fortunately, there is a kids D-Hist Jr.
If your child doesn’t do well with the xylitol in this product, they can take one of the adult D-Hist. That’s how we do it, because xylitol can cause diarrhea in some individuals.

We feel good about this product because it is safe and effective. The traditional over-the-counter allergy medicines can have many harmful side effects. The milder side effects include:

Natural D-Hist is a targeted blend of flavonoids, antioxidants, proteolytic enzymes and botanicals designed to provide comprehensive support for seasonal challenges caused by common environmental allergens. The formula includes quercetin, bromelain, stinging nettles leaf, and N-acetyl cysteine. The powerful combination actively promotes healthy nasal and sinus passages for individuals with elevated histamine and respiratory irritation.

Quercetin

Quercetin has strong antioxidant activity and has been shown to support immune health by mediating the release of inflammatory compounds including leukotrienes and prostaglandins. Quercetin is known for its ability to stabilize mast cells, diminishing the release of histamine, the compound known to cause hypersensitivity reactions during seasonal changes.

Stinging Nettles Leaf Extract

Stinging nettles leaf is a plant that has been shown to balance immune response, specifically in the airways and nasal passages. Studies have shown that the extract of stinging nettles leaf balances a variety of inflammatory activities that affect respiratory health.

Bromelain

Bromelain is a plant enzyme naturally found on the stem and fruit of the pineapple plant. Bromelain is a proteolytic (protein-digesting) enzyme that aids in in the breakdown of large protein complexes, including antigenic compounds, and has been shown to enhance the absorption of quercetin. Bromelain has been shown to reduce circulating allergenic protein complexes associated with hyper-immune sensitivity and seasonal discomfort.

N-Acetyl Cysteine

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is an amino acid precursor to one of the most important antioxidants in the body, glutathione. Both glutathione and NAC help reduce the viscosity of the mucus allowing for clearing of the airways and improved respiratory health.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C cannot be synthesized by humans and is therefore an essential nutrient that must be consumed in the diet. Among its numerous health-promoting properties, vitamin C is an essential vitamin that supports the immune system and is also a potent antioxidant. When the body is under a significant amount of stress, vitamin C is excreted rapidly. Vitamin C has many immune boosting properties, but is distinctively beneficial for individuals with seasonal discomfort because of its ability to deactivate histamine.

]]>http://icanteatwhat.com/how-to-beat-seasonal-allergies-side-effects-not-included/feed/0How to Get Cavity Free Teeth and No More Tartar!http://icanteatwhat.com/how-to-get-cavity-free-teeth-and-no-more-tartar/
http://icanteatwhat.com/how-to-get-cavity-free-teeth-and-no-more-tartar/#commentsSun, 16 Aug 2015 18:51:14 +0000http://icanteatwhat.com/?p=3863In the last 44 years I’ve probably had at least 60 dental cleanings. I haven’t always gone twice a year, but have always taken good care of my teeth. I also don’t have the healthiest teeth in the world because of gluten sensitivity. Gluten wreaks havoc on tooth enamel, so it’s very common for gluten […]

In the last 44 years I’ve probably had at least 60 dental cleanings. I haven’t always gone twice a year, but have always taken good care of my teeth. I also don’t have the healthiest teeth in the world because of gluten sensitivity. Gluten wreaks havoc on tooth enamel, so it’s very common for gluten intolerant individuals to have problems with cavities and poor tooth enamel. For instance, when I was 5, I had to get 10 cavities filled. Then three more as a teen. As an adult I’ve had two abscessed teeth, and one was cracked so badly that I had to have it removed.

According to an article by the Gluten Free Society, in a recent research study, it was confirmed that gluten causes the body to produce an immune reaction against one of the main proteins responsible for producing enamel on the teeth. Lack of enamel leads to a variety of oral health problems including excessive cavities, excessive tooth ware and tear, and eventually the premature destruction or loss of teeth. It is no mystery that gluten proteins can negatively impact the health of the oral cavity.

This information holds true for our oldest daughter, who had terrible tooth enamel in her baby teeth. She also has gluten intolerance, but we didn’t know it until she was 2. She grew teeth very rapidly and had 12 by her first birthday. By age 5, she had 6 cavities. We eat a low sugar diet so I was confused about why she had so many until I learned about the gluten connection. Also, as a toddler, her teeth were white on the top half but gray on the bottom half. We helped restore the color of her teeth by giving her a calcium-magnesium supplement at night, but that’s another blog post.

Continuing on…In the last couple of years I’ve had some cold sensitivity and ouchiness in the left side of my mouth, on occasion. This summer I read about Wellness Mama’s Remineralizing Toothpaste, and listened to her podcast about it, and decided to give it a try.
I was afraid that it would be a big hassle, expensive and gross. It wasn’t any of those things. The initial cost for the supplies is pricier than buying a tube of toothpaste, but the ingredients last for months and months, so over time you spend less than you would if you were purchasing toothpaste from the health food store, like Tom’s brand.
It was super quick and easy to make and the taste isn’t bad. It is different, but not gross. I used it for about a month, and then I ran out during a super busy time. I didn’t have time to make any more for two whole weeks, so I used my regular toothpaste.
This past week I had my bi-annual dental cleaning. When the hygienist looked in my mouth she said, “Beautiful teeth!” I tried to say thank you with my mouth wide open, but, of course, it came out in a muffle. I knew she understood, but then she said, “Wow! There’s nothing to scrape! I mean there’s no tartar on your teeth anywhere! I can’t find anything to scrape!” I thought, “What? Are you serious? No one has ever said that to me before.” Even when I go diligently twice a year for a cleaning, the hygienist always remarks about how much I need to floss better and they scrape so much that I bleed! Seriously! I floss every single night, and they still comment on how I need to do a better job! This time I got nothing but an amazing report! And no tartar? Who ever heard of such a thing! The only thing that has changed in my mouth is the Remineralizing Toothpaste, so I’m hooked.

She also made no comment on the “dark spots” that they’ve been “watching” for the last few dental visits…possible cavities forming! I will not stop using this amazing miracle for my teeth! You have to try it! And when you do, let me know what your dentist says about the health of your teeth. We only get one set of teeth and we really need to care for them better than we do. You won’t regret it. Not one single bit!

]]>http://icanteatwhat.com/how-to-get-cavity-free-teeth-and-no-more-tartar/feed/2Conquering Adrenal Fatigue, Insomnia and Depression: A True Storyhttp://icanteatwhat.com/conquering-adrenal-fatigue-insomnia-and-depression-a-true-story/
http://icanteatwhat.com/conquering-adrenal-fatigue-insomnia-and-depression-a-true-story/#commentsTue, 30 Jun 2015 09:28:04 +0000http://icanteatwhat.com/?p=3457For most of my life I’ve struggled with insomnia, fatigue and depression. As a child it was milder, but noticeable. I love being outside and being active, but never quite had the energy to do as much as I wanted to do. As I’ve gotten older it has gotten worse. For many years friends and […]

For most of my life I’ve struggled with insomnia, fatigue and depression. As a child it was milder, but noticeable. I love being outside and being active, but never quite had the energy to do as much as I wanted to do. As I’ve gotten older it has gotten worse. For many years friends and family have said to me, “Why are you having so many health issues when you eat healthier than anyone I know?” In 2002 I was diagnosed with gluten, dairy, soy and egg intolerance. Grain and sugar intolerance made themselves known shortly after, so I’ve been eating a super clean diet for years. I don’t cheat on my diet because I hate the symptoms I have if I do. I’m very motivated and disciplined in this area. But though my diet is very clean, I’ve still had major trouble with insomnia, fatigue and depression. I’ve tried so many doctors, research, supplements, diets and nothing seemed to break this vicious cycle.

After my 3rd baby was born in 2008 I read a book about the raw diet. It sold me, and my husband, on that way of eating, so we began a new diet venture. We started with green smoothies, which immediately helped me gain energy and sleep better. I also had a lot less moodiness. I felt calm and more patient. Soon I was eating a totally raw diet and lost way too much weight because I was still breast feeding. It was a bad time to go completely raw, but who knew?

Anyhow, the raw diet only lasted about 6 months and then I began to add in some cooked food and a little bit of meat because my stomach was killing me and I was super emotional. Adding some cooked foods really helped. I also noticed that I couldn’t tolerate any grains at that point. That was one of the reasons why I felt a stomach ache all those years that I was just eating gluten free. It wasn’t just the gluten, it was all grains. Going raw helped me to see that, and I’m so grateful for discovering that piece of the puzzle.

Sugar was also a bother, as it caused me to have phlegm and itching, so I cut that out, too. Fastforward to 2009 and I begin to have the most severe insomnia ever! I went to my naturopath and he did a blood panel, only to discover that I was very low in B12, Vitamin D and iron. The rest of the results were excellent! So, he put me on a protocol for those things, but sadly I had a terrible reaction to all of them. I got worse!

So off to another doctor. This time it was a traditional MD. He also did a blood panel and made the same diagnosis as the naturopath. Again, he put me on iron, vitamin D and B12. Same senario, different doctor, same bad reactions! My symptoms were itching, heart palpitations, irritability, insomnia and diarrhea! Seriously? That again? Why always those symptoms? Neither doctor had any idea what to do, so I began to research. I learned a lot in my research, but it took a long time to make any headway. I was reacting to everything I tried for energy and sleep. All I took was the typical stuff like minerals at bedtime or melatonin or 5-HTP. Nothing was working, and everything was making me sicker.

In 2013 I went to another naturopath because the fatigue and mental clarity was spiraling downward from all the insomnia. He did a stool panel, blood panel, adrenal and neurotransmitter test. The blood work was the same. All the numbers looked great except the vitamin D, B12 and iron. I also had a parasite and elevated glutamate, a neurotransmitter that has something to do with sleep. His recommendations were spot on for most people, but I still had a terrible reaction to everything he prescribed. I continued to get worse. Nothing was working. He also couldn’t understand why I wasn’t able to take the vitamin D, iron and B12.

Through my research I learned that I needed magnesium to process the vitamin D. Seems simple enough that those three doctors could’ve told me that, but none of them did. I bought some Natural Calm and it worked like a charm for the vitamin D. Wow! Finally some headway. But still a long way to go.

When I began to try the iron and b12 again I literally took a fraction of the dose and slept a little bit better. However, I began to have major chest pain. I had an EKG done and it was normal. Calcium and Potassium numbers also normal. The chest pain was scary and didn’t go away until I stopped taking the iron and B12. Even at that tiny dose it caused a major problem. Finally the naturopath recommended that I take a DNA test from 23andme.com to see if I had something called MTHFR. (Read this article to learn about MTHFR). He didn’t tell me much about it, but just said it was fairly common and could be the reason for my inability to tolerate the things I needed the most.

I ordered the test for $99. It was an easy test where I had to spit into a small tube and then ship it back to them. In a few weeks my results came back and as it turned out the doctor was right. I had 10 DNA mutations! Overwhelmed and scared I began more research because he wasn’t sure how to treat me since I was so reactive to supplements. What I noticed was that all the supplements for the MTHFR mutation had astronomical doses of B12 and Methylfolate. I knew I couldn’t handle those doses, so I searched for something with a tiny dose. In my searching I found something called Intrinsic Factor. As it turns out intrinsic factor is made in our guts for vitamin B12 absorption. Some people don’t make enough and need to supplement with it. I found a product that contained Intrinsic Factor with B12 and methylfolate. This time I didn’t have some of the bad symptoms as before from the B12, which were excessive bruising, nervousness, insomnia, irritability and diarrhea.

More prayer and research and I found that TMG (trimethylglycine) was frequently used with B12 and methylfolate. When I looked it up I learned that TMG is for cardiovascular health and digestion (great for my gallbladder situation since I had it removed at age 27). I immediately picked some up and within 30 minutes of taking it all my chest pain was gone! So with the magnesium at night and the intrinsic factor and TMG during the day I could tolerate the vitamin D, B12 and Iron without bad side effects. I began to gain some energy and joy, but was still having insomnia.

In 2002 when I was diagnosed with gluten, dairy, soy and egg intolerance I’d had an adrenal stress test done and was given a supplement called Seriphos for the elevated cortisol that was causing so much of the insomnia. In my last adrenal test in 2013 I still had some cortisol issues so I decided to try the Seriphos again. This was a huge help with the insomnia. I really began to sleep almost through the night, but now I began to be extremely fatigued beyond what I had ever experienced. I also lost all libido and was more depressed. I found a great naturopath by word of mouth, Dr. Phillip Arnone BS, DC, DABCI, who immediately ordered a hormone panel. From all the insomnia my adrenals had gotten extremely fatigued and as a result, four of my hormones plummeted. They were cortisol, estrodial, DHEA and testosterone.

We decided to treat the testosterone first because it was the lowest number on the test. I immediately felt better and began digesting better and sleeping through the night. I was, however, having major fatigue in the afternoons. We then added some progesterone and estriol, which helped as well. Taking DHEA made me really sick, so I stayed away from that. After 4 months of treatment my hormones got to an optimal level and I’ve been able to go off all the treatment except a tiny dose of progesterone.

After all of that I was still struggling with fatigue and a bit of insomnia. Recently I read about using beef gelatin to help regulate hormones, heal the gut and sleep better. I tried it and sure enough I sleep better with it. Still struggled with fatigue, however.

Finally I read about an adrenal cocktail on a website that I found through my instagram, www.gingernewtrition.com. This adrenal cocktail has been a huge breakthrough for me. I’ve been drinking a modified version of the adrenal cocktail on her site and have had more energy than I’ve had in years. I haven’t had any afternoon crashing since drinking it. Also, within 2 weeks my progesterone began to balance out and I’m now living without progesterone therapy and feeling great. Adrenals regulate hormones, so this makes perfect sense that the progesterone would balance out while healing the adrenals.

I’m using coconut water instead of the coconut milk because without a gallbladder I can’t digest coconut milk. It goes right through me. It’s recommended that you drink the adrenal cocktail an hour before or after food. You can read more about it on gingernewtrition.com.

Also, if you are struggling with any of these same issues I highly recommend you get tested for MTHFR and find a good physician to help you with proper treatment. My protocol is very specific to my needs so I’m not recommending that my readers take exactly what I take. I believe this article will encourage someone with similar issues and lead them to get the right kind of help. I’m not a doctor and do not aim to treat anyone. Everyone is different and some people, like myself, cannot tolerate the high doses of B12 and methylfolate that most doctors recommend. Dr. Ben Lynch at www.mthfr.net has a lot of information on his site about how to proceed with low doses at first to see how you react to the treatment. It can be dangerous if you don’t start low and slow. Some people have experienced major side effects from taking the wrong dose at the wrong time, like seizures, so please be careful. Also, since I still drink a 16 oz. green smoothie every day I don’t need the high doses of methylfolate because I’m already getting a lot of folate from the smoothies, so if you’re not drinking green smoothies, you’ll, more than likely, need more methylfolate than me.

Another very important thing to share about getting the insomnia under control was that I had a heavy metal hair test done in February. For some reason I have very high Bismuth, but from an unknown source. As soon as I started on the Chelex supplement I began having more energy and sleeping through the night. I’ve tried skipping it and if I do, I end up waking for a couple of hours. I also feel more calm and joyful on it. It’s been a huge blessing.

My daily protocol is very specific to me and isn’t perfected, yet. But I have made huge progress with my health in the last year. I take tiny doses of some things and the recommended serving of others. I never start with the full dose of anything since I’m so reactive, and I find that I save myself from major side effects proceeding slowly this way.

In case you’re interested, here’s my current protocol (it changes as things get better and I adjust accordingly).

AM (I take these with my tea or lemon water)

16 oz lemon water or white, green or oolong tea (I hydrate First Thing in the morning, Super important for detoxification!)

I know it seems like a lot of supplements, but each one of these play a very important role in keeping me in balance. When I take one out of the picture, I end up with very negative consequences and I begin to spiral downward quickly. This is typical for those with MTHFR. Chronic illness isn’t a quick, one pill fix. It involves a lot of different systems in the body that work synergistically to keep things in balance. I’m very happy to share this success with you and hope you find help in what I’ve shared.

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7

]]>http://icanteatwhat.com/conquering-adrenal-fatigue-insomnia-and-depression-a-true-story/feed/3Egg Sensitivity – What does it look like?http://icanteatwhat.com/egg-sensitivity/
http://icanteatwhat.com/egg-sensitivity/#commentsTue, 02 Jun 2015 04:07:45 +0000http://dahz.daffyhazan.com/food-cook/?p=620Eggs are soooo wonderful unless you’re sensitive to them. We’ve learned the hard way to detect egg sensitivity. If you’ve read my story you know that I was diagnosed with a stool test. However, I didn’t have the money to test my children. For my second born her egg sensitivity came in the form of […]

Eggs are soooo wonderful unless you’re sensitive to them. We’ve learned the hard way to detect egg sensitivity. If you’ve read my story you know that I was diagnosed with a stool test. However, I didn’t have the money to test my children. For my second born her egg sensitivity came in the form of emotional distress. I didn’t realize that food sensitivity could cause an emotional reaction, but through research I learned that emotional changes can be one of the symptoms. For our daughter after eating eggs she would cry uncontrollably for at least 45 minutes after consuming eggs. It usually came 24 hours later, but sometimes sooner. As she became older she grew out of that reaction. Now when she eats eggs she feels fine, unless she has them several days in a row. If they’re baked in something she can have them every day with no problems. If she eats them scrambled every day then she’ll have a stomach ache. Our Ballerina also gets a lot of tummy aches from eggs. It’s a tough one to test and a tough one to eliminate, but so worth it!

I also had the emotional reaction, along with insomnia and diarrhea. The symptoms are different for everyone, but don’t be surprised if emotional problems are the main symptom. You aren’t crazy if you eliminate a food for a few weeks to test it out. That’s the best test anyway, because there are many false negatives with food allergy tests.

]]>http://icanteatwhat.com/egg-sensitivity/feed/2What The MTHFR? Unlocking the Key to Over 60 Common Illnesseshttp://icanteatwhat.com/what-the-mthfr-unlocking-the-key-to-over-60-common-illnesses/
http://icanteatwhat.com/what-the-mthfr-unlocking-the-key-to-over-60-common-illnesses/#commentsTue, 17 Mar 2015 02:03:39 +0000http://icanteatwhat.com/?p=3071 What is MTHFR? Well, it’s a very important part of our DNA, not that there’s an insignificant part! MTHFR is an enzyme that is responsible for the process of methylation in every cell in your body. MTHFR is a common genetic variant that causes this key enzyme in the body to function at a lower than […]

What is MTHFR?

Well, it’s a very important part of our DNA, not that there’s an insignificant part! MTHFR is an enzyme that is responsible for the process of methylation in every cell in your body. MTHFR is a common genetic variant that causes this key enzyme in the body to function at a lower than normal rate. This can lead to a variety of medical problems. Methylation is a core process that occurs in all cells to help your body make biochemical conversions. When people with genetic mutations in MTHFR are exposed to toxins, they have a harder time getting rid of them which can cause some very serious illnesses. Here’s the full article here…It’s a very good read and not too long! So, why is this important for me to share? Read on to see if my story helps you with your health struggles.

For most of my life I’ve struggled with chronic fatigue, insomnia and depression. When I was growing up there were circumstances that played a role in my level of anxiety, but there was enough stability that I should have been able to sleep well. The insomnia increased as I got older. The fatigue stinks because I love to be active. I love hiking, biking, repelling, exercising and all kinds of outdoor activities. It is always hard to do all the things I want to do because of the fatigue. I’m frequently in a mental fog. The depression comes in varying levels at different stages of my life. Sometimes it’s due to circumstances and sometimes not.

In the last 5 years all of these symptoms became almost unbearable. I’m a mother of three amazing children, and I have a very fun and supportive husband. My food sensitivities are a chore, but I’ve really gotten them down to a science, so they’re not that hard to live with anymore. Most of the time it doesn’t affect my emotions negatively at all. I home school my children, sing in the youth worship band, do art commissions, exercise regularly, and laugh with my husband and kids A LOT! Home schooling isn’t as stressful as it sounds, and I really like it and I have a great time with my kids. I’ve also learned how to manage that job and now two of my three are old enough that they do most of their work independently. I have a full and blessed life, so why all the insomnia and depression?

5 years ago I began having insomnia so bad that I would only sleep for a few hours and then be wide awake for 3 or 4 hours. By the time I went back to sleep I only had a couple more hours to rest before starting our day. At first, I had a decent amount of energy, as my adrenals would kick into overdrive. But, after about a year, I began to get run down and the depression kicked into high gear. I sought 3 different doctors who all ordered blood work. One of them also ordered an adrenal test, neurotransmitter test, as well as, a stool test. They all agreed that I needed B12 and vitamin D in a huge way. The problem was when I tried taking them I had worse insomnia, irritability, bruising, itching, diarrhea and chest pain. I had an EKG done and it was normal, but I continued to have chest pain. The doctors were stumped! None of them had an answer until finally a year ago one of them suggested that I have a DNA test that would indicate whether I had an MTHFR mutation. He didn’t explain it much, but said that if I had any DNA mutations they would play a huge role in this incessant insomnia, fatigue and depression.

Through much research I learned that MTHFR mutations lead to all kinds of very common health issues. According to MTHFR.net not only do they contribute to chronic insomnia, fatigue and depression, but they can also lead to cardiovascular disease, MS, thyroid issues, mental health issues like bipolar and schizophrenia, IBS (which I was diagnosed with 23 years ago), chemical sensitivities (which I also have), asthma, autism, Down’s syndrome, Spina bifida, fibromyalgia, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, colon, breast and rectal cancers, and many more disorders and diseases.

These mutations are highly genetic, of course, so I ordered the test for me and my family. The test was easy and inexpensive through 23andme.com. The results showed that I have 10 DNA mutations. My husband and children have more than that! At first, I was pretty alarmed, but quickly learned that almost half of the population has DNA mutations. Here’s a great article that sums it up quite well from Metabolichealing.com.

The next thing I had to do was learn how to treat my specific needs. The doctor that led me to this test wasn’t sure exactly what to prescribe because I react very quickly to tons of supplements and prescriptions. His first recommendation was to take Methylfolate and Methyl B12. Again, when I tried them I had increased chest pain! As I continued to research and look for the right products that didn’t have too many ingredients or fillers, I came across something called TMG. It was a recurring ingredient in the supplements recommended for MTHFR, so I looked further into what it is. I’m happy to say it was the answer to the chest pain. TMG stands for Trimethylglycine and it’s a major player in the methylation cycle. TMG is specifically for cardiovascular health, so I immediately tried adding it to my protocol. Within 30 minutes of taking it all my chest pain was gone!

The problem with B12 and vitamin D were another mountain to climb, but I was able to learn what I needed in order to stop the bad symptoms I was having from those supplements. First, I learned that in order to process B12 the body makes something called Intrinsic Factor. Some people don’t produce enough of it to absorb B12 properly, either through diet or supplementation. I found a B-Complex that contains Methylfolate and B12 along with Intrinsic Factor. It was a winner and I no longer had a hard time with B12.

Now on to the Vitamin D. Some of the fatigue and depression were brought on by low vitamin D levels. Again, I researched and found that in order for the body to properly absorb vitamin D there has to be enough magnesium. I was already getting a good deal of minerals in my daily green smoothie, but I was still lacking enough magnesium. As soon as I started using Natural Calm at night I no longer had a hard time taking Vitamin D.

In the last year I’ve found the most knowledgable and helpful doctor I’ve ever had. I’m making a lot of progress. It’s a long road to find all the pieces of the puzzle, especially since I’m super sensitive to medicines and supplements. It’s impossible for doctors to know everything that you need. Our issues are very individual, so if you need help there’s a list of doctors at mthfr.net. You may find one in your area. If not, then go to your local health food store and ask for a physician recommendation, or do a google search for someone in your area. Always do your research. It’s good to know what the side effects of supplements are, in case you have any adverse reactions. Help your doctor help you. There’s always hope for increased wellness. Don’t give up. Don’t let the discouragement take over. Sometimes you’ll feel like you’re taking one step forward and two steps back. Just don’t give up. The basic MTHFR protocol is also found at mthfr.net, but I highly recommend getting tested and seeking guidance through a knowledgeable physician to avoid taking the wrong supplements for you. The links I provided in this article will lead you to the right information and what to do next. It should be pointed out that your fixed, gene sequence does not necessarily guarantee you a life filled with disease, nor does your fixed gene sequence automatically guarantee you protection from disease and illness, according to Metabolichealing.com.

If and when you get tested and find help, please leave a comment and let me know how it’s going for you.

Never walk away from Wisdom—she guards your life;love her—she keeps her eye on you.Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom!Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!Throw your arms around her—believe me, you won’t regret it;never let her go—she’ll make your life glorious.

Three in four of all people – 75% – are intolerant to Dairy foods like milk, yoghurt, cheese and ice cream. The vast majority are unaware. The presence of persistent symptoms like headaches, cough or asthma, frequent cold or ‘flu, skin problems, stomach bloating, sinus pain, Irritable Bowel, depression or low iron levels suggest Dairy Intolerance.